Edward Abbey
![](/Images/godic/202501/10/Edward_Abbey1911.jpg")
![Abbey spent time as a park ranger at what became Arches National Park near Moab, Utah](/Images/godic/202501/10/Double_O_Arch-Arches_NP-Utah1911.jpg")
![The Monkey Wrench Gang was one of Abbey's better-known books (cover of 10th anniversary edition, 1985), and was an inspiration for radical environmental groups, such as Earth First!](/Images/godic/202501/10/The-monkey-wrench-gang1912.jpg")
Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire.